Project-based learning is a form of learning that allows students to practice real-world skills in a meaningful way. Students develop their research skills by forming questions and hypotheses to answer through exploration. This form of learning allows for student curiosity and interest to drive research and understanding. Many resources used during project-based learning are available digitally, so it is easy to facilitate project-based learning regardless of whether you are teaching online or in-person. 

At a time where the majority of learning is done online, it is important to innovate. Innovation provides students with learning opportunities that they may otherwise be missing in an online environment. Google Classroom is a great place to gather resources for students to participate in project-based learning, even while they are outside a physical classroom. For example, students can upload projects onto Google classroom, where they can collaborate with their peers. 

Benefits of Project-Based Learning 

A huge benefit of project-based learning is that it shifts the classroom dynamic. Project-based learning provides students with opportunities to explore and answer questions in a way that gives them freedom. This helps students practice responsibility and research skills while developing their own curiosity. 

Because project-based learning is student-centered, it is actually ideal for online learning. Students are often given more time to work independently in an online learning environment, so implementing project-based learning is easy. Teachers can use instructional time to answer student questions and guild learning, but students can use their own time to explore their projects more fully. 

There are many online apps and tools that teachers can use to seamlessly implement project-based learning in their classrooms, including online classrooms. Students who are doing their schooling remotely will have easy access to these digital tools, so this teaching aspect remains the same, whether in-person or online. 

How to Get Started

If you are interested in developing project-based learning activities for your students but are unsure about where to start, many Youtube videos can help. These videos will help you understand what project-based learning is, its benefits, and how you can implement it in your own classes. These assist with planning activities for students and developing specific learning goals; these learning goals will assist with grading transparency and student success.

If you are new to project-based learning, there are even PD courses that can help you integrate this model into your classroom. Defined Learning is an educational company that has developed online teacher PD to help teachers develop project-based learning for their own students. This PD consists of different modules that can help you with all aspects of developing project-based learning experiences in your classroom; these modules include topics such as how to create project-based learning rubrics, the importance of evaluating students, and how to align project-based learning to curriculum standards effectively. 

Conclusion

Project-based learning has become an asset to teaching students in an engaging and exciting way. Students can practice their research skills and become fully immersed with learning because the topics interest them. Luckily for teachers, project-based learning is just as easy to facilitate online as it is in-person. There are many online resources to help answer any questions you may have about implementing project-based learning in your classroom, so don’t wait–your students will thank you.